Since I've been helping my older son17 with his college search I've stumbled across many schools that I was unaware of their selectivity and "prestige factor". Growing up and spending most of my time in the New England area has left me sheltered and I guess ignorant of how many good schools there are throughout the USA. Part of my ignorance may stem from the fact that I've never met people in my social or professional life that have attended some of the these schools, so I've just never paid much attention to them.
My 2 examples:
1) University of Chicago - never once I have I met anyone who's graduated from there, and I never hear of kids around me applying there. Really had no idea. Just assumed it was a regular old college based in a city I never visit. I understand it to be quite intellectual. After looking at the info online, it seems like a cool place to go to school if you are their type. I am not their type, lol.
2) University of Rochester: Again, never met anyone, nor worked with anyone who's graduated. I don't think many kids in my son's school apply there. I thought it was just another ho-hum institution based in a city that I never visit. My wife used to complain about traveling to Rochester for work sometimes, so I just never held it in high regard. Ignorance, again!
So, that's 2 school's, there's many more that have surprised me and opened my eyes to all of the great schools around the country. I've enjoyed reading and learning about a lot of neat places to go to college.
Not that it matters much to me at this time, my kid wants to go to school 15 miles away, :)
↧